By MITCH TRAPHAGEN
mitch@observernews.net
RUSKIN – Theresa Kovatch, 43, of Ruskin was injured in a collision with a school bus from Rodgers Middle School near the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and College Avenue in Ruskin on Monday. Four students and the school bus driver were uninjured. Kovatch was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital in serious condition.
Mitch Traphagen Photos
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Kovatch’s vehicle, a late model Ford Mustang GT convertible, struck the bus from behind. The car was dragged by the bus, stopping in front of South Shore Signs and Solar Designs at 103 College Ave. Chad Cossaint, an employee at Solar Designs was among the first on the scene. He was working with another employee on a vehicle audio system outside when they heard the crash. Cossaint called 911.
“She was looking pretty beat up,” Cossaint said. “We got the blood off of her face and kept asking her name over and over again. I finally got her to have a conversation with me. I apologized to her for meeting like this. Then the first responders showed up and they took over. We brought the kids inside the shop and had the bus driver shut off the bus. I took my hat to keep the sun off her eyes.”
According to witnesses, it took rescuers nearly 30 minutes to remove Kovatch from the wreck.
“I hope she’s OK, Cossaint continued. “I prayed with her and told her she would be alright.”
As of press-time there were no further details as to Kovatch’s condition or the cause of the accident. An investigation is ongoing.
